Alyssa Valdez leads Ateneo to beat UST 

The Ateneo Lady Eagles kept in step with the DLSU Lady Spikers, securing their second straight win in the UAAP women's volleyball championships to grab a share of the lead with a 25-22 25-20 21-25 25-15 victory over the UST Lady Tigresses on Sunday.

 

Alyssa Valdez had 23 points off 20 kills, while Jhoana Maraguinot added 12 points.

 

Cherry Ann Rondina did it all for UST, scoring 21 points off 15 attacks, three blocks, and three aces. EJ Laure also had 11, but it was not enough as Ateneo delivered the lethal blows in the fourth set to secure the victory.

 

In the other women’s volleyball match, Shaya Adorador tried to lift the UE Lady Warriors with 23 points, but the FEU Lady Tamaraws leaned on their three-pronged attack to take a 25-18 25-11 21-25 25-14 win.

 

Toni Rose Basas and Heather Guino-o had 15 apiece, while team captain Remy Palma had 11 to lead FEU to victory.

 

After the first eight matches, La Salle and Ateneo stay atop the standings with an identical 2-0 win-loss card, while UP, FEU, NU, and Adamson are in a four-way tie at 1-1. UP and UE remain winless.

 

In the men’s division, UP bounced back from an opening day loss against FEU by defeating the UST Growling Tigers, 25-17 22-25 25-19 25-21.

 

Wendel Miguel carried UP with 22 big points off 20 attacks, while John Mark Millete added 15 off 12 attacks and two aces.

 

Arnold Bautista was stellar for UST with 20 points, while Andrei Medina and Patrick Balse added 15 and 10 points, respectively.

 

NU, meanwhile, notched their second straight victory, cruising past the DLSU Green Spikers in straight sets, 25-23 25-23 25-20.

 

James Natividad paced NU with 14 markers with five blocks, while Bryan Bagunas had 12 points off 11 attacks. Kim Mabunga also had 13. — APG, GMA News